Joseph Bergfeld, 91, passed away at 11:47 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2015 at his home in rural Effingham.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Teutopolis with burial in St. Francis Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Bauer Funeral Home in Teutopolis. Memorials may be made to St. Francis Catholic Church or donor's choice.

Joe was born October 31, 1923 in Teutopolis, the youngest of ten children to George and Mary (Behrman) Bergfeld. He married Jeanette A. Pruemer in Teutopolis on September 14, 1946 and she preceded him in death on April 7, 2015.

His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He would give them endless golf cart rides and always fed them popcorn, candy and Oreo cookies. Every year, Joseph enjoyed all the visits from Adam's preschool class and the kindergarten kids.

The man loved his farm and had every animal possible. Joseph was very proud of his sign over his lane and was even still blading that lane at 90 years old. Every evening he would watch the sunset to predict the weather, while enjoying his "hot cup of coffee" with his cupcake.

In his death, the county loses one of its older pioneers. He was a prominent dairy farmer all his life and hauled milk by horse and wagon, then by truck for many years. Joe never knew a stranger and never had a loss for words. Always telling his stories to everyone he encountered; "let me tell you one more thing…"

Joe is survived by his children, Steve (Judy) of Effingham, Kenny (Pam) of Watson, Brenda (Jesse) Ketteman of Effingham and Thad (Janet) of Effingham; grandchildren, Dustin (Alicia) Harkins of Mt. Vernon, Dacia (Greg) Albin of Effingham, Emily (Adam) Bagley of Brighton, Fran Bergfeld (fiance, Brad Kuhns), Matthew Dalton of Nason, Mark (Jaci) Dalton of Fairmont, WV, Luke (Nikki) Dalton of St. Louis, MO, John (Stephanie) Dalton of Sesser and Danielle, Jacob and Adam Bergfeld of Effingham; great-grandchildren, Isabella and Dylan Harkins, Jeffery and Henry Bagley, Maya and Jace Dalton, Adelia and Amelia Dalton, Jaylee Higgins and Alexis Albin, Eli and Nevaeh Cook.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; wife and nine brothers and sisters, Helen, Clarence, Art, Rich, Berneice, George, Minnie, Catherine and Raymond.